A bill that would decriminalise abortion and allow women to self-refer to abortion clinics within the first 20 weeks of gestation has found a resounding majority at its first reading in New Zealand's parliament.
Ninety-four members of parliament voted for it and 23 voted against it.
Currently, abortion is a crime in New Zealand and can only be legally performed to save the life of the mother, or to preserve her physical or mental health.
A procedure must be approved by two doctors or consultants.
The strict law from 1977 does not mean that abortions are not available in New Zealand.
More than 98 per cent of abortions are performed on the grounds that continuing with the pregnancy would cause serious danger to the woman's mental health.
The government-sponsored bill would remove requirements for statutory tests for a woman who is less than 20 weeks pregnant.
After that, a health practitioner will need to vouch for the fact that abortion is needed.
The bill was treated as a conscience issue, meaning politicians were able to cast their votes independently of their parties.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern passionately defended the bill saying women felt like they had to lie to legally access abortion in New Zealand.
"And if they do tell the truth, then technically under our law they are a criminal. And I don't believe that is right, I fundamentally disagree with that," she added
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Source: AP
"The time is right for us to finally put women's dignity and their rights at the centre of this discussion," she said.
Many members of the conservative National Party had also thrown their support behind the bill.
Amy Adams who served as justice minister for the conservative National Party spoke in support of the bill.
"We have a long history of women's reproductive systems being subject to control of the state of laws of men.
"We do have to say that women should be trusted to make decisions that are up to them, for their families, or their bodies," Adams said.
The bill will now move to a select committee to hear the public's views.
